Defenseman Brett Kulak and goaltender Stuart Skinner formally joined the Pittsburgh Penguins’ active roster on Monday after resolving their immigration status over the weekend.
Both players and a second-round draft pick in 2029 were acquired in a trade Friday that sent goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin to the Edmonton Oilers.
Kulak and Skinner are each Canadian nationals and since they have never previously played for an NHL team based in the United States, the byzantine process of being cleared for employment in this country needed a few days to unfold.
On Saturday, the Penguins placed them on a non-roster designation and removed them from the active roster in order to dress a traditional lineup of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday.
In a corresponding transaction, rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Monday. He had been recalled under emergency roster conditions Saturday.
During a 5-4 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Sunday, Murashov stopped 32 of 37 shots.
In five NHL games this season, Murashov has a 1-1-2 record, a 2.56 goals-against average, an .897 save percentage and one shutout.
At the AHL level, Murashov has played in 11 games and posted an 8-2-0 record, a 1.56 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and two shutouts.
Kulak has played in 31 games this season and has recorded two assists while averaging 17:42 of ice time per contest.
In 23 games this season, Skinner has posted an 11-8-4 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, an .891 save percentage and two shutouts.
